AUDIO: The Sign of Four Spirits (Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery #9), by Vicki Delany

 

Publication Jan. 9. 2024    AUDIO: 8h 27m   Narrator Kim Hicks

I absolutely loved this. As much as I enjoyed the print version, there is something about having a narrator who is not only great at differentiating character voices as well as nuances of speech that might not be noticed by the eyes. Given that one of the early scenes involves a seance, yep, medium and contacting the dead, there were even more voices for Kim Hicks to provide and she did an outstanding job. She had Gemma's occasionally haughty, very British aristocratic voice as well as her more usual, conversational tone. Bottom line, Kim Hicks is excellent. 

I won't detail the plot but will post my original review of the ebook after this quick audio review. The chapter changes are simply introduced as "Chapter..." whatever. The various voices used suited the characters nicely, making it easy to differentiate between speakers. It definitely brought the story to life, from the thunder and lightning outside where the seance was being held to the supposedly unknown male voice that sounded angry during the seance. Things flow, well, aside from Gemma's occacionally long winded explanations of this or that. Let's just say, you'll learn much about the history and use of hat pins. Even those actually flow and you can sense the odd combo of impatience and bemusement from those on the receiving end. 

Bottom line, I absolutely loved this audio version. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys audio books or, for that part, simply intriguing mysteries. You won't come away feeling like Gemma is your new best friend but you'll definitely respect her observation skills and ability to put oblique clues together to pinpoint the killer. Thanks #DreamscapeMedia for giving me this sneak listen. Original review follows.

_____ Original Review ______

"Emma isn't going to the seance. Definitely not going. Nope. Not going. So, how'd she wind up there anyway, albeit perched outside the door where the event is taking place?

This has become a favorite series for me although, quite frankly, I still find Emma Doyle more annoying then likable. That said, she's definitely improved and grown on me over the series. I even think I'd like her as a friend, albeit one that'd wear on my nerves quickly. It isn't that she rivals Sherlock Holmes with her observation skills and ability to put complex clues together. That's impressive. It's just that her people skills need work. That said, it's obvious in this book that she's trying to be a better friend. She hesitates and doesn't always spout out what she's thinking, thoughts that are often negative toward the one she's speaking to/about. She doesn't make abrupt phone calls in the middle of the night, showing more awareness. It's Emma's smarts and ability to learn and change, albeit slowly, that keep me coming back. Toss in that Vicki Delaney/Eva Gates is a superb writer and hooks me from the very start and I find myself gravitating to this series, not to mention being so intent upon trying to sort it out that I tend to read the book in one or two sittings. 

So, who killed the medium? Why didn't she allow Gemma into the room for the seance? It doesn't matter whether we believe in such things or not, there are characters who do and that is the reason for the gathering. Or, is it? Why was Donald disappointed in the seance even before it really got started? Who was that last angry voice heard? Will Ryan, the detective/boyfriend, accept Gemma's help or not? Will Moriarty the cat ever warm up to Gemma? Why is the medium's assistant so interested in Bunny? Will Rebecca ever make peace with her step-son? And, once again, who is this diabolical killer? Can even Emma's masterful deduction skills find the truth in time? 

Bottom line, I loved this book/series. Great cover. The writing flows and the characters are fully-developed, even the minor ones. And, heck, you'll learn quite a bit about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the process of reading, too, so a win-win. Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for allowing me to spend some time in Emma's world and mind. I think my mind is still spinning at how she put it all together."